Okay you guys are right.. I mean saying that like my 500$ is a piece of crap compared to a 50,000 horse.. Yes he probably would have better qualities.. BUT i bet my 500$ horse can do some things that a expensive horse cant.

What does it matter? You love your horse. Period. There are always going to be horses more expensive than the horse you own - what's wrong with that? Why does it have to be a contest?
Enjoy what you have, and don't get (too) jealous of what you don't have. Saying "well my cheap/expensive horse can do things your cheap/expensive horse can't!" is really a big waste of energy. Each horse will have strengths and weaknesses, some will be more athletic and able to win bigger than others, some are mellow and great to trail ride on without a worry. My gelding would never make a WP horse, just about any QH would beat the socks off him - but he probably has bigger, more English suited movement than a lot of QHs. He would not be my first choice to have a leisurely trail ride on - he's a bit looky outside still, but he is a great jumper prospect (he won't make Grand Prix..)
-shrug-Posted via Mobile Device

I have two definitely not $500 horses. And I love them dearly. They are NOT performance machines. My youngster gets so excited when he sees me coming that he starts shaking - if he was a dog, his tail would be wagging madly.
He leaves his food to watch what I'm doing - last night he couldn't quite see around the corner to watch me, so stood up on the ledge of his stable with his front feet, pushed against the door as hard as he could, stuck his top lip out and scrunched his eyes shut to get an extra few cms!
This morning, I found him fast asleep, sprawled on his side, and spend 10minutes laying with my head against him while he slept.

He definitely didn't cost $500 - buy I can tell you, the amount of work I had to put in to afford him makes me love him and appreciate him even more. I slogged my backside off bigtime to get the money together to pay for him.

I've had my fair share of $500 horses and done well with them too. I always scrimped and saved to afford professional lessons. I am ambitious, I don't want to be a happy hacker. I love dressage, its what I want to do and I want to be as good as I can possibly be. This requires expenses, such as lessons.
There came a time where I realised I was never going to get where I wanted to go, on $500 turn around horses, hence I saved like crazy to afford a double figure horse.
I know have two. I buy my clothes from the op shop most of the time, my car is ancient, my trailer is ancient but safe, my saddle was second hand but I love it and it is of good quality, I do not keep my horses in a top facility - they are at a friend's parent's property close to my home, with basic facilities and a pretty dodgey arena.
But I REALLY want to be the best that I can, and to do that sacrifices need to be made in order to afford a quality horse, and quality instruction.

OP, and anyone else of the same mindset, not everyone who has an expensive horse or trainer is a snobby, 'rich kid' having it all handed to them on a platter. MAYBE, just maybe, that person you are having a go at, worked harder than you've ever worked in your life to achieve what they have.
If you want the same, then you need to pull your finger out and work for it.

Tell that to the European warmblood breeders, who have dedicated generations of research into producing the best horses they possibly can, for Olympic discplines. The high prices of these horses, is due to this extensive research, extensive care, extensive training that goes into producing these horses.
To put a high quality warmblood foal on the ground, alive, with respectable breeding - you won't get any change out of $7000 - and that is if you are lucky.

Your $500 horse was probably $500 for a reason. Cheap stud put over a cheap mare with not a huge deal of thought put into breeding and performance, probably live cover and possibly no vet attendance through the pregancy. Followed by basic, and possibly amateur education.
This is not a bad thing, there is a market for cheaper, quiet, all round horses.
But please don't try to compare this type of horse with one who has had centuries of carefully monitored breeding behind it, with impeccible performance lines.
Horses are bred to a type for a reason, a $500 grade 'bitsa' with stubby front legs, a ewe neck, straight hind legs and a back a mile long is NOT going to be able to perform a Grand Prix dressage test. It will break down before it reaches that level.

Enjoy the horse that you have, and please, don't insult those of us who work like slaves to afford what we have.

I'm going to call it like I see it. It sounds like OP is a little jealous. I can relate, some people do seem to have it all, but I get kind of sick of 'poor' riders saying 'rich' riders have no heart, just money.

I'm definitely what would be considered a "poor" equestrian: most of my riding clothes and equipment are second hand and I help my good friend do chores on her farm in exchange for riding priviledges since I cannot currently afford a horse of my own. Is it frustrating sometimes? Sure, but as far as top horses,barns, and riders taking advanced lessons, they are worth every penny because of what has been invested in them. Imagine raising a child to have good motor skills, impeccable manners, kindness and a love for the talents they possess. Wouldn't they be considered more "valuable" than a kid who is left to themselves with no guidance or proper rearing? They shouldn't be loved any differently but one has been given an opportunity to go farther. Kind of a cheezy example but I know most horses are like biological children to their owners :)

Okay you guys are right.. I mean saying that like my 500$ is a piece of crap compared to a 50,000 horse.. Yes he probably would have better qualities.. BUT i bet my 500$ horse can do some things that a expensive horse cant.

You say things like that and someone will expect you to elaborate :)

My Arab was on the expensive side - but I wanted a well bred, papered Arab with a good brain, athletic ability, personality. Papered Arabs in my area can be pricey! An untrained Arab consistently sells for more than some papered and trained horses of other breeds.

All that was background.

People sometimes think my horse is a lot "fancier" than what he is, because I can (occasionally) get him moving very correctly and prettily, he's brave as hell, and can run forever. I let his performance speak for him. That's what you should be doing too.e your horses performance speak for it.Posted via Mobile Device

BUT i bet my 500$ horse can do some things that a expensive horse cant.

Such as?

Honest question. What do you think your backyard grade can do better than a horse specifically bred for a particular sport?

You're still coming across as jealous and angry. Why? Your horse is who he is, and as long as you love him what does it matter what he can or can't do when compared to a high dollar animal?

My 'freebie' TB is a failed racehorse. There's a whole LOT of things he can't do compared to a high dollar athlete, and it doesn't matter to me one little bit. I didn't get him and expect people to tell me he'd be some fabboo dressage or barrel horse, because I know better.

There is nothing wrong with having an expensive horse, equipment, or trainer. It's when it becomes ONLY about having those things, instead of loving the sport and horses for what they are that it becomes wrong.

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